A Summer Visit from my Sister Friedl
That summer day my Hal and I were driving to SeaTac Airport to greet my sister who was visiting us for three months from Germany.
I cannot believe that she has been here with us for 4 weeks already. But we have been very busy, so the time passes fast. Before my sister Friedl arrived, I had contacted the manager and sales lady at I. Magnin’s “Designer Room” to inquire when they would receive their leather coats, full length coats. She told me that usually they arrive in September, sometimes in late August. I had that call on Wednesday evening and so far, there are five full length coats, soft leather, in different style and color in this shipment “and they are beautiful” she added.
I did not tell my sister Friedl what I had planned for her, it was to be a surprise by my husband Hal and me. I wore for my trip to Germany in 1957 a beautiful, soft, cream color leather coat, my sister Friedl fell in love with. This is now my opportunity to gift Friedl one also and let her pick it out. Today, Saturday is my day with my sister to go shopping downtown and have lunch and a style show at the tea-room at Frederick and Nelson.
When we arrived at I. Magnin on the second floor, the sales lady recognized me and came toward us with a smile. I noticed some hangers right by the dressing room with beautiful leather coats, even a white one. Stunning! After the introduction and a little conversation, I went with Friedl into the dressing room. Soon my favorite sales lady came into the dressing room with several coats over her arm. I knew right away that my sister Friedl would not be interested in any of these. It was the color Friedl would not wear. Two brown ones and a red one. O NO! The sales lady noticed the rejection right away and admitted that these would not suit Friedl. She left and came back with two more. A black one, but a bit too sporty in style. Now, for the “piece d’resistance” a stunning soft, with flared back, white leather coat!
Friedl’s face showed a smile and tears in her eyes. She tried it on, and she looked elegant, stunning and happy. No gift wrap needed just a garment bag with hanger. I went with the sales lady to the counter to pay, while Friedl waited and then two happy ladies, after saying thank you and goodbye, left the store and walked across the street to the parking garage to securely put the garment bag in the car trunk and left for Frederick and Nelson’s tearoom for lunch and a style show.
The lunch was very tasty, and we enjoyed the beautiful big shrimp in a cognac sauce, but there was not much conversation. I knew that Friedl was thinking about her awesome coat, so I kept from talking. I do believe that the time was wasted when we “watched” the style show, our attention was not on the beautiful clothing. But the coffee and delectable dessert, we would not want to miss.
Friedl planned to wear this gorgeous coat on her return flight back to Germany. But that day will come much later. We still had more plans to fulfill, more scenery to see and more friends to meet.
It was to be a wonderful time together with the two people I loved so dearly.
Ilona’s loving and generous heart is so evident in this delightful story. It makes me think of what Hal would say, that Ilona would never be rich, because she would give it all away. Thank you Ilona and Marcie, for sharing this wonderful story with us.
Another beautiful “sister story”. — how sweet these are. There were never any more devoted sisters, and the generous way they show their love for each other is inspiring. I can just see their happy faces during this escapade at I.Magnin’s. And oh how I miss Frederick and Nelson’s. What a shame that Seattle lost that iconic and elegant department store. Amazon will never replace the experience of F &N’s. tea room. The picture of Friedl here is charming. She never lost that reflective pensive look in her eyes. Eyes that had seen so much and communicated even more. Another heart-filled story. Thank you.